From paddock to paradise: Discovering the hidden magic of Taitua Arboretum
Tucked away in the rural surrounds of Temple View, Taitua Arboretum is a 20-hectare playground of nature just waiting to be explored.
Jane Mortimer (left) stands in the Redwoods, wearing a necklace belonging to her mother, Bunny Mortimer, one of the founders of Taitua Arboretum.
The vibrant sanctuary of Taitua Arboretum is home to a variety of trees, farm animals, wildlife and whimsical hidden gems for a bit of fun and adventure.
Arriving at the carpark, visitors are often greeted by friendly chickens with their curious chicks looking to see if you have extra food.
As you head along the path into the arboretum, you come across different areas that showcase unique collections of the woodland including John’s Pond named after one of the founder’s John Mortimer and the redwoods, a towering circle of trees which are 50 years old.
Jane’s parents devoted their time to make this magical place – bringing back seeds and ideas from travelling all around the world. As Jane touches her mother’s necklace, she reflects on the deep bond her parents shared while developing the land. “It was a joint project” she says, noting that their common interest in trees and research is what made their marriage so strong.
This “joint project” eventually outgrew the family gates as the beauty of the 20-hectare woodland became impossible to hide. The visitors book shows that in 1992, Taitua was open for five days, from Wednesday 6 May to Sunday 10 May. It was then that John and Bunny realised the impact of their work.
“My parents would take garden groups and then they opened it to the public one weekend when all the autumn colours were there and they just had such a huge number of people arrive. They realised, the public really loved coming here”.
Jane mortimer – Daughter of founders john and bunny mortimer
It was this overwhelming response that planted the seed for gifting the arboretum to the Hamilton City Council in 1997, ensuring the community remained the “extra beneficiary” of their lifelong passion.
Of all the “special areas” within 20-hectare, the iconic Redwood Circle stands as a testament to Bunny’s specific intuition. At the time when the land was mostly open slope John and Bunny could see a future forest where others only saw a quiet paddock.
Jane recalls that her mother was always very organised. “Research was done by hand without a computer”.
Jane Mortimer holds a photo of her mother, Bunny Mortimer, in the same land decades earlier, highlighting the transformation of the arboretum over time.
Today, Taitua Arboretum is more than just a collection of trees; it is a living history book that continues to grow. For anyone in the Waikato looking to get lost in a world of autumn colours and global heritage, Taitua Arboretum is a must-visit sanctuary that proves the best things in life truly do grow with time.
To plan your visit or learn more about the collection, visit the Hamilton City Council’s Taitua Arboretum page.
